GIQ WNBA Preview — San Antonio Silver Stars Vs. New York Liberty

by Frisco Del Rosario on October 28, 2014

Before Seimone Augustus hurt her knee Wednesday, the missing person drama on Friday’s WNBA schedule was supposed to be San Antonio at New York. All-league guard Becky Hammon was traded from New York to San Antonio two season ago, but the South Dakotan is taking two games off to play for the Russian national team.

The timing could hardly be better for New York, the only winless team left. The Liberty are at or near the bottom of the league in points scored, field goal shooting, rebound differential, and assists.

Naturally, the Liberty have hit the under twice in three game, while their worst shooting night so far has been at home.

Yet somehow the Liberty are the only team this season that managed to cover the spread while losing outright (coincidentally, it was in their first meeting with San Antonio).

Liberty center Janel McCarville was a #1 draft pick who developed as the league’s most improved player two seasons back. She leads her team in rebounds, assists, and blocked shots, and is one of three Lib to average double figure scoring.

The defending Western Conference champion Silver Stars surely wished to prove that they deserved a return trip to the finals, but while their #1 center is on leave, the Stars have drifted toward the middle of the league in most statistical categories. Forward Sophia Young is their leader in points and rebounds, but she was much better against high-flying Mercury than against the pokey Liberty.